Blessed Motherhood, Bitter Fruit : Nelly Roussel and the Politics of Female Pain in Third Republic France

One of French feminism's most courageous public figures has received relatively little in-depth mention until now: Nelly Roussel's crusade gave women control over their own bodies and sexuality and Blessed Motherhood Bitter Fruit reveals her sacrifices and accomplishments during the process. Roussel was an actress and beauty who defined parameters of the women's movement which would not be realized for over seventy years: she was the first feminist spokeswoman for birth control in Europe and her lectures, essays, and speeches promoted then-radical ways of thinking. Her biographer does an outstanding job of linking Roussel's life and thoughts to her times and the evolving history of the women's movement as a whole, making it a top pick for any definitive women's history collection. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Nelly Roussel (1878–1922)—the first feminist spokeswoman for birth control in Europe—challenged both the men of early twentieth-century France, who sought to preserve the status quo, and the women who aimed to change it. She delivered her messages through public lectures, journalism, and theater, dazzling audiences with her beauty, intelligence, and disarming wit. She did so within the context of a national depopulation crisis caused by the confluence of low birth rates, the rise of international tensions, and the tragedy of the First World War. While her support spread across social classes, strong political resistance to her message revealed deeply conservative precepts about gender which were grounded in French identity itself.

In this thoughtful and provocative study, Elinor Accampo follows Roussel's life from her youth, marriage, speaking career, motherhood, and political activism to her decline and death from tuberculosis in the years following World War I. She tells the story of a woman whose life and work spanned a historical moment when womanhood was being redefined by the acceptance of a woman's sexuality as distinct from her biological, reproductive role—a development that is still causing controversy today.

Nelly Roussel (1878–1922)—the first feminist spokeswoman for birth control in Europe—challenged both the men of early twentieth-century France, who sought to preserve the status quo, and the women who aimed to change it. She delivered her messages through public lectures, journalism, and theater, dazzling audiences with her beauty, intelligence, and disarming wit. She did so within the context of a national depopulation crisis caused by the confluence of low birth rates, the rise of international tensions, and the tragedy of the First World War. While her support spread across social classes, strong political resistance to her message revealed deeply conservative precepts about gender which were grounded in French identity itself.

In this thoughtful and provocative study, Elinor Accampo follows Roussel's life from her youth, marriage, speaking career, motherhood, and political activism to her decline and death from tuberculosis in the years following World War I. She tells the story of a woman whose life and work spanned a historical moment when womanhood was being redefined by the acceptance of a woman's sexuality as distinct from her biological, reproductive role—a development that is still causing controversy today.

"Nelly Roussel (1878-1922) - the first feminist spokeswoman for birth control in Europe - challenged both the men of early twentieth-century France, who sought to preserve the status quo, and the women who aimed to change it. She delivered her message through lectures, journalism, and theater, dazzling audiences with her beauty, intelligence, and disarming wit. She did so within the context of a national depopulation crisis caused by the confluence of low birth rates, the rise of international tensions, and the tragedy of the First World War. While her support spread across social classes, strong political resistance to her message revealed deeply conservative precepts about gender which were grounded in French identity itself." "In this study, Elinor Accampo follows Roussel's life from her youth, marriage, speaking career, motherhood, and political activism to her decline and death from tuberculosis in the years following World War I. Accampo tells the story of a woman whose life and work spanned a historical moment when womanhood was being redefined by the acceptance of a woman's sexuality as distinct from her biological, reproductive role - a development that is still causing controversy today."--Jacket Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction: Nelly Roussel, “Contemporary of the Future”......Page 16 1 Conversion Experiences......Page 28 2 Mother and Missionary: The Ideological Foundations of an Unorthodox Feminism......Page 50 3 The Making and Marketing of a Spectacular Apostle......Page 85 4 The Public and Private Politics of Female Self-Sacrifice: Audience Reception......Page 114 5 Pathologies and Persecutions......Page 162 6 The Great War: Pacifism, Censorship, and the Disease of a “Weary, Wounded Heart”......Page 198 7 Last Battles: Words of Combat, Hope, and Pain......Page 232 Epilogue......Page 266 Notes......Page 278 Bibliography......Page 318 B......Page 330 D......Page 331 F......Page 332 H......Page 333 L......Page 334 N......Page 335 P......Page 336 R......Page 337 U......Page 338 Z......Page 339 Illustrations......Page 123